Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-09-03

IS feet of earth.
The death rate OF the world is COM
pated about 67 a minute, 97,79O a day,
and 35, ,639, ,S35 a year, while the birth
rate is 80 minute, 100, 500 day, and
S6,792, 900 year.
A photographer at Pesth has succeeded
IN taking photographs of projectiles,
fired from Werendler gun, while hav-
ing velocity of 1900 feet per second.
The projectiles appeared on the impress
sions enveloped in layer of air, hyper
bolic in form.
Photographic outfits are being placed
on board all United States men-of-war
with the purpose of illustrating de-
spatches. All points of value in naviga-
ton are 10 be photographed and the
pictures are to be preserved for reference
at the Navy Department.
Cultivated in groves, the average
growth in twelve years of several va
rieties of hard wood has been ascertained
to be about as follows: White maple
reaches foot in diameter and 30 feet in
height, ash, leaf maple or box elder, 1
foot in diameter and 90 feet in height
white willow, is inches and 40 feet /:
yellow willow, 1s inches and 35 feet;
Lombardy poplar, 10 inches and 40 feet &;
blue and white ash, 10 inches and 25
feet; black walnut and butternut, 10
inches and 90 feet.
A French savant has propounded a
theory that coal was originally a liquid
generated by the decomposition of infe-
rior vegetation in an atmospere highly
charged with carbonic acid. The carbon
of the jelly-like mass thus formed. after
passing through various transformations
into asphalt, petroleum, btumen, ETC.,
finally assumed the form Of coal The
author cites various facts connected with
the occurrence of coal, which, he thinks,
are better explained on his theory than
by the usual one.
DIR. A. B, Grifiiths, an English physi-
clan, has just published communion
tion which is of great importance to hor-
ticulturists and agriculturists. He de.
monstrates that iron sulphate is an anti
dote for many Of the most virulent cpl
denies which attuck field and garden
crops. These diseases are due to micro
scopic fungi, whose structures are
built up in a somewhat different manner
to the corresponding parts in other
plants. 1t appears that the cellulose in
these fungi is acted upon by iron sui
phate, whereas in the higher plants tie
cellulose of the cell walls is not influ-
enced. The iron sulphate destroys the
cellulose, but does not affect that of
the attacked plant 1t is, therefore, an
antidote and destroyer of such parasitic
germs and fungi as the potato disease,
wheat mildew, etc.
During many years spent in Tunis,
Colonel Roudaire surveyed four great de-
pressions or ''shotts," extending below
sea level in such position that they may
be filled with water by means of canal.
These depressions - named Tedjed,
Djerid, Rharsa and Melrir-could thus be
changed in lake more than seventy-five
feet deep, and having an area of 3, 164
square miles. The creation of this lake
and the consequent improvement of
much surrounding country formed the
favorite project of Colonel Roudaire, and
now seems likely to be accomplished
in spite of its authors death. The ar
tesian wells tried in the district, and
from which a revenue in aid of the canal
was expected, are proving successful.
The first well, sunk in 1885 to a depth Of
295 feet, commenced yielding water at
the rate of 1,76O gallons per minute, and
has now increased its flow to 10, 800 gal
Ions per minute. According to Sir F.
de Lesseps, the banks of the river Melah,
which fifteen months ago were deserts,
are now populated; and very shortly the
canal will be commenced.